editor's picks

Photo highlights: Week in sports

Posted: November 30, 2011

The day after Thanksgiving brought the Bears of the University of California down from the Bay Area to meet the Sun Devils. Ron Hischier works the barbeque as Gloria and Jack Lepird watch the disc TV in their deluxe tailgating trailer set up west of Sun Devil Stadium prior to the California game. Mr. Hischier has had season tickets to ASU football for more than 30 years, and the Lepirds have attended games since the mid 1970s.

Photographer: Tom Story

Football fans since 1969, Steve Hamlin (center, facing camera) and Allan Henry (center) chat with Bob Combs (left) as the parking lot fills with Sun Devil fans. Mr. Hamlin coached Mr. Combs at Tempe High School and the group has attended ASU football games together for decades. With the exception of Mr. Hamlin's son Chris (right) who attended Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, the other gentlemen are all ASU alumni.

Photographer: Tom Story

Dennis Erickson greets Trent Marsh during the Senior Day introductions when 24 seniors were honored before the start of the game. Erickson will not be returning for a sixth season as head coach of the ASU football team. "As he pursued success at the highest level within the Pac-12 conference, he improved the overall competitive health of the Sun Devils by attracting tremendous players to the university," said Vice President for University Athletics Lisa Love of Erickson upon the announcement of his departure.

Photographer: Tom Story

And the rest of the Sun Devils take the field.

Photographer: Tom Story

ASU quarterback Brock Osweiler’s 16-yard run set up ASU’s first touchdown. Mr. Osweiler also threw for 264 yards and three touchdowns in a losing effort against the Bears 47-38.

Photographer: Jason Wise

Cameron Marshall ran for 157 yards and a pair of touchdowns, breaking the school season record.

Photographer: Tom Story

Aaron Pflugrad snags an Osweiler pass. The senior wide receiver was two catches for 33 yards and one touchdown.

Photographer: Robert Kline

Rashad Ross misses the catch but caught five other passes for 108 yards and one touchdown.

Photographer: Robert Kline

Mike Willie (left) and Trevor Kohl celebrate Kohl’s pass reception that led to an ASU touchdown.

Photographer: Tom Story

Considered by many as one of the top defensive backs ever to play for the Sun Devils, Anthony Parker played cornerback for the Sun Devils from 1984 to 1987. A graduate of Tempe’s McClintock High, Mr. Parker also was a starter on the 1987 Rose Bowl team and went on to play nine NFL seasons. He attended the game to watch his son, current Sun Devil linebacker Colin Parker play.

Photographer: Jason Wise

Colin Parker strips the ball from Cal tight end Anthony Miller, but Cal was able to recover the fumble.

Photographer: Robert Kline

This pass to Mike Willie was incomplete, but he did catch two for a total of 21 yards against the Bears.

Photographer: Robert Kline

Jamal Miles rushed for 36 yards and caught three passes. His efforts earned Second Team All-Pac-12 Conference honors as a return specialist for the Sun Devils. Miles is the only player in the nation to have scored a touchdown reception, a touchdown on a kickoff return and punt return, and to throw a touchdown pass, racking up 1,020 return yards for the Sun Devils. On the season, Miles returned two kickoffs and one punt return for touchdowns.

Photographer: Tom Story

While ASU’s defense was suspect at times against the Bears, Cal’s Isi Sofele found a solid wall of Sun Devils on this play.

Photographer: Tom Story

Safety Alden Darby (4) came close to blocking the field goal that put Cal up by two scores.

Photographer: Robert Kline

Kevin Ayers (left) and Kipeli Koneseti reflect on the season following the game.

Photographer: Tom Story

The volleyball team closed out the 2011 season with a victory in four sets over their rivals from the University of Arizona on Saturday night, claiming half a point in the State Farm Territorial Cup on Senior Night at Wells Fargo Arena.

Photographer: Jason Wise

Ashley Kastl (15) notched 18 kills and Malia Bachynski added 10 kills in her last appearance in maroon and gold at the Wells Fargo Arena.

Photographer: Terri Smith

Levi Cooper (center-right) celebrates a victory. He was the story of the day at the Journeyman/Asics Northeast Duals in Troy, N.Y., over the Thanksgiving weekend. Mr. Cooper was 4-0 in his matches and upset the top-ranked and returning NCAA heavyweight champion Zach Rey of Lehigh, 5-1.